![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-03-27T234651Z_1178844286_MT1USATODAY17977209_RTRMADP_3_NBA-LOS-ANGELES-LAKERS-AT-NEW-ORLEANS-PELICANS.jpg?width=600)
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 27, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) reacts toward the fans after making a 3-point field goal in the first quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-03-27T234651Z_1178844286_MT1USATODAY17977209_RTRMADP_3_NBA-LOS-ANGELES-LAKERS-AT-NEW-ORLEANS-PELICANS.jpg?width=600)
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 27, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) reacts toward the fans after making a 3-point field goal in the first quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
This season was not very good for LeBron James. The King who is known for making the Finals consistently missed the playoffs for only the fourth time in his career. Despite him having a historic year for a player in year 19, James was destroyed for not making the playoffs. But now, despite his critics writing him off already, he seems to have a roared back with a historic achievement.
LeBron is one of the richest players in the NBA right now. He is without a doubt the highest-earning player in terms of salary collected over the years. His incredible popularity and genius investments have earned him a tremendous amount of money.
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Now, combining all that and another year in the Forbes Top 10 list of the richest earning athletes, LeBron has cracked another milestone.
LeBron James becomes the first active NBA player to become a billionaire
Since the start of the NBA, there have been only two players to reach the landmark milestone of a billionaire. And they were Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. But the two reached that mark after they retired. ‘King James’ did something which these two greats couldn’t do. According to Forbes, LeBron James is now officially a billionaire. And he became the first active player in NBA history to do so.
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LeBron James has become the NBA’s first active player worth $1B, via @Forbes.
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 2, 2022
Despite not reaching the playoffs this year, LeBron was the second-highest-paid athlete in the world, only behind Lionel Messi. He made a reported a $121.1 million last year and that put him past the milestone. This is a historic achievement for LeBron, who had previously said that this was his biggest milestone.
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James has several high-profile investments including Springhill, a marketing agency, Fenway Sports Group, which owns multiple sports teams, and Uninterrupted. Other ventures also include Blaze Pizza and Beats. A majority of LeBron’s net worth comes from his off-court ventures, but he has also earned over $300 million in salary from the NBA. And now, with him reaching his biggest milestone yet, LeBron will be roaring to get back at it again. He will want to get back to his throne next season, and in spectacular fashion as well.